The Drivecast

Your OBDII app might have put you on a federal list

The Drivecast

Show Notes

Years ago EZ Lynk was in the news for its products, how they were being used, and what they were enabling consumers to do with their vehicles. Now, five years later, the book has been opened, again, and the department of justice is looking at how EZ Lynk enabled customers in modifying their vehicles in a way that violated laws. This time? The DOJ is targeting consumers and their data, which is a whole new set of issues.

So today, it’s The Drive's Director Of Content And Product Joel Feder and Senior Editor Caleb Jacobs discussing EZ Lynk, the DOJ, diesel defeat devices, and the Pandora's box that is being opened.

Stories mentioned in today's episode:

DOJ Orders Apple, Google to Hand Over OBDII App User Data in Emissions Probe

US Government Sues Diesel Truck Tuner EZ Lynk Over Emissions Defeat Devices

Fast Times and Million-Dollar Fines: Inside the EPA’s Messy War on Dirty Diesel Trucks

Trump Administration Guts Framework Behind U.S. Auto Emissions Regulations

Emissions Defeat Devices No Longer a Top Priority for EPA

Feds Won’t Pursue Criminal Charges Against Tuners for OBDII Tampering Anymore

Previously Imprisoned Diesel Tuner Receives Federal Pardon

00:00 Intro

01:33 About last week

05:25 History and how we got here today

08:20 EZ Lynk

09:38 Consumer privacy

13:02 The scale of the situation

14:13 From President Joe Biden to President Donald Trump

17:43 What comes next? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

More from The Drivecast

Oct 22, 2026

General Motors just laid out its future and it's wrapped around bets on AI, new EV battery chemistry, new EVs, and autonomous vehicles. But the automaker's in the midst of launching new clean-sheet V8s, what gives?

Oct 14, 2026

Arguably the Corvette is General Motors' most iconic and important vehicle even if it's not a sales leader. As the possible finale of the C8 Corvette lineup arrives in the form of the Grand Sport a new leader is taking over the team and all of GM Performance. It's a critical moment, and Tony Roma has big shoes to fill.

Oct 9, 2026

Cars are more complicated, connected, and software driven than ever. The tuning industry is growing, but awash in shady characters promising big power gains if you yank out your car's brain and send it to them to modify. AutoTuner aims to show you can run a legitimate business in this space, but this is at odds with what automakers want.

Sep 30, 2026

America's EV charging situation is a mess. So much so that eight automakers banded together to create a joint venture, dubbed Ionna, and try to fix the situation. It's an unprecedented move on multiple levels that shows the gravity of the situation, how seriously automakers take the future of electric vehicles, and an entirely new business venture that diversifies these companies beyond just building and selling vehicles: now they are selling the fuel too.

Sep 23, 2026

A new law in California relaxing emissions tests for classic cars is being hailed as a “landmark” victory for the car community and common sense. But it’s not what it seems.

See all episodes →